WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP — Trying to stop a friend from shooting himself by grabbing the gun, a 21-year-old man died Saturday when the shotgun discharged and he suffered a head wound, said investigators.

The deceased is Dustin Arbron Allen, recently of Sharonville, who has resided in Clinton County about the past month.

Kyler Ray Landacre, 23, formerly of Lebanon, was living at the same residence on Faris Road south of Cuba. Landacre had moved there to take care of his grandmother, said Clinton County Sheriff’s Office Major Brett Prickett.

Clinton County Sgt. Bob Gates, a detective, said Landacre was inside a shed early Saturday afternoon when Allen walked into the shed and apparently saw the 12-gauge shotgun and tried to take it from him.

“They’d been friends since grade school,” Gates said.

Landacre has been charged with a first-degree misdemeanor, negligent homicide. Although investigators believe Landacre did not intend to shoot Allen, it was Landacre’s initial actions that caused Allen’s death because Landacre was planning on shooting himself with the gun, said Gates.

Law enforcement personnel were at the scene for hours, studying it, and the details and evidence support the claim Landacre did not intend to shoot Allen, said Gates on Monday afternoon.

The Wilmington Life Squad responded to the scene, as did Clinton County Coroner’s Office Investigator Gary Garrison. An autopsy was performed on the body of the victim.

As is the sheriff’s office policy for people regarded to be suicidal, Landacre was provided counseling, said Prickett.

The matter remains an open investigation, but at this point, there is nothing indicating Landacre had an intent to shoot Allen, Gates said.

Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768 or on Twitter @GHuffenberger.